The Metropolitan Area of Lisbon hosted the first International Conference of the European DeltaNet Project, welcoming over 130 guests from policymakers, central and local government and universities and the project partners from Belgium, England, Germany, Poland, Romenia and Spain.
Guest speakers included:
* Han Meyer, TU Delft – Delft University of Technology;
* João Pedro Costa, Faculty of Architecture, TU Lisbon (FA-UTL) and João Figueira de Sousa, Faculty of Social and Human Sciences, New University of Lisbon (FCSH/UNL) – Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT);
* Teresa Álvares and Manuel Lacerda – Tagus River Basin District Administration;
* Jon Coosen, Advisor Water – Steering Comittee South Western Delta – The Netherlands.
The meeting brought into focus issues such as diversity and complexity of delta systems as rich in natural resources, but of great ecological fragility. It was also discussed the need for management plans aimed at reconciling the various uses of estuaries, preserving the ecological balance and its smooth integration into the urban fabric.
Carlos Humberto de Carvalho, President of Lisbon Metropolitan Area said that: “These are complex challenges for policymakers, but also windows of opportunity, that both the public sector and enterprises can and should seize in a context of sustainable development, and with a view to improving the quality of life of our metropolis and their citizens.”
And concluded that “It is indeed necessary to create an agenda for the sustainable management of the Delta regions and this is the main objective of the DeltaNet project”.
Alongside the conference two workshops were held only for the project partners on the following themes: “Flood Risk and Sediment Management” and “Balancing Economic Activity and Ecological Sustainability of the Deltas”.
Lisbon marked the start of the DeltaNet project and it was the first of several conferences on this issue that will take place until 2012 a bit all over Europe.